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The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater doubles tandem of
John Zakowski (Green Bay, Wis./Southwest) and
Luke VanDonslear (Marion, Iowa/Linn Mar) punched their ticket to the International Tennis Association Cup by winning the ITA Midwest Regional Doubles title Monday morning.
The pair faced Drew Elofson and Gage Gohl of the host institution, Gustavus Adolphus, in the championship Monday. Zakowski and VanDonslear jumped out to a 4-0 lead in set one before GAC started to mount a comeback. The Warhawks held off the Gusties to take a 6-4 lead in the match. UW-W took a 2-0 lead in set two before GAC went on a run to win the set 6-3 and force a match tiebreak to 10. The tiebreak went back and forth until a small run had GAC leading 9-5. The Warhawks turned it around eventually knotting the tiebreak 9-9 and eventually securing the championship 11-10.
The title is the second consecutive ITA Midwest Regional doubles championship for Zakowski.
The duo cruised through the competition that began Friday in St. Peter, Minn. They opened with an 8-1 win over Spencer Skidmore and Albert Bostoen of Grinnell followed by an 8-3 win over Taona Mhwandagara and Rafael Costa of GAC. In the third round, Zakowski and VanDonslear topped Hunter Roseth and John Foley of UW-Eau Claire 8-2 before facing their toughest test outside of the championship in the quarterfinals. UW-W's combination edged Leo Esztergomi and David Daniel of Grinnell 8-6 to advance to the semifinal where they beat GAC's Sourabh Terakanambi and Marco Siviero 8-3 to secure their spot in the title match.
The singles and doubles champions and runners up from the ITA Regional Championships advance to the ITA Cup. The ITA Cup is comprised of the eight regional champions (and/or at-large selections) from NCAA Divisions II and III, NAIA, and junior/community colleges. It is also the only tournament that combines all levels of Junior/Community College (NJCAA Divisions I and III and the California division). The singles and doubles champions at each divisional level will then compete at the Oracle ITA National Fall Championships.
The 2022 ITA Cup is scheduled for October 13-16 at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College in Rome, Georgia.
Sunday Recap
The UW-Whitewater duo of
John Zakowski (Green Bay, Wis./Southwest) and
Luke VanDonslear (Marion, Iowa/Linn Mar) have advanced to the doubles championship at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Midwest Regional hosted by Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. The pair will face Drew Elofson and Gage Gohl of GAC Monday morning at 10 a.m.
Zakowski and VanDonslear combined to top a Grinnell team in the quarterfinals 8-6. An 8-3 victory over a squad from the host institution secured a spot in the championship for the Warhawks. Zakowski makes his second consecutive trip to the finals after winning the title with teammate
Alex Gray (Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville) last season.
The singles and doubles champions and runners up from the ITA Regional Championships will advance to the ITA Cup. The ITA Cup is comprised of the eight regional champions (and/or at-large selections) from NCAA Divisions II and III, NAIA, and junior/community colleges. The competition is slated to conclude with championship matches Monday.
Cole Lindwall (Cottage Grove, Wis./Monona Grove) and
Tyler Nelson (Waunakee, Wis./Waunakee) (Waunakee, Wis./Waunakee) also competed in the quarterfinals of doubles play. They fell to a duo from GAC 8-5 Sunday afternoon.
VanDonslear opened the day with quarterfinal singles action Sunday. The junior fell to Carleton's Tarm Rojanasoonthon 6-3, 6-2.
Saturday Recap
The Warhawk men's tennis team is competing at the ITA Midwest Regional Championships hosted by Gustavus Adolphus College this weekend. Junior
Luke VanDonslear (Marion, Iowa/Linn Mar) has advanced to the quarterfinals of singles competition while doubles play is still taking place Saturday.
The singles and doubles champions and runners up from the ITA Regional Championships will advance to the ITA Cup. The ITA Cup is comprised of the eight regional champions (and/or at-large selections) from NCAA Divisions II and III, NAIA, and junior/community colleges. The competition is slated to conclude with championship matches Monday.
Singles
VanDonslear, the number six seed, is 4-0 heading into quarterfinals action that is scheduled for Sunday. He won his opening round 6-1, 6-2 followed by a 6-1, 6-1 win in round two. His third match was the toughest challenge VanDonslear faced but he came out on top 6-4, 7-5. He advanced to the quarters with a 6-0, 7-5 win.
John Zakowski (Green Bay, Wis./Southwest), the overall number one seed, advanced to the round of 16 with three wins before withdrawing due to injury.
Tyler Nelson (Waunakee, Wis./Waunakee) (Waunakee, Wis./Waunakee) and
Cole Lindwall (Cottage Grove, Wis./Monona Grove) both picked up a pair of wins before falling in the round of 32. Lindwall's round of 32 loss was a tough battle coming back from a 2-6 first set loss to win set two 6-2. He fell 11-13 in the tie break.
Payton Adkisson (Lincolnshire, Ill./Stevenson) and
Josh Baldwin (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie) won their openers before falling in the second round.
Chase Lindwall (Cottage Grove, Wis./Monona Grove),
Andrew Dumbauld (),
Josh Guillermo (Muskego, Wis./Marquette University HS),
Ridley Aranda (Bayside, Wis./Nicolet), and Parker Sprague also represented UW-Whitewater in singles action.
Doubles
Doubles competition is still underway Saturday night at the time this recap was posted. Warhawk duos of Zakowski/VanDonslear, Sprague/Dumbauld, Guillermo/Aranda, and
Cole Lindwall (Cottage Grove, Wis./Monona Grove)/Nelson all opened with wins Friday night and will compete Saturday evening. Adkisson and Baldwin dropped their opener.
